Hi Guys,
I'm contemplating getting a Kimber in one of the new WSMs. My preference is for the 7mm but am concerned that the 7mm will be the first of the WSMs cartidges to fall away in popularity and thereby the supply of cases could dry up. Is the 270 more popular?
A couple of questions.
Will the 7mm WSM stay around or should I go for the 270 WSM?
Is it easy to convert 300 WSM cases to 7mm WSM?
Thanks.

Its a wise choice to reload with actual 7mm WSM brass. The dimensions are different so the 7 could not be loaded into a 270, kinda like the 280 Rem vs the 270 Win.

The 7wsm, if the chopping block falls on any of the WSM's, will be the first to go. But, I see lots of the stuff sitting around on shelves, and have seen some good sales. So if you want a short mag, and like the 7mm bullets, get your rifle and just make sure you're stocked up. And all the WSM ammo should be the same price across the board, but double check as again, the 7mm is different.

I'm a little suspicious of the staying power of the 7mm WSM simply bcause there is a stainless Savage 16 with Accutrigger at the nearest shop in 7mm WSM that has been there forever and its price tag is $80 lower than the same rifle in .270 WSM and .300 WSM, so that kinda stuck out at me. Still tempting though, it seems to be a fine round.

oldun,

Indeed I worry about the 7mm WSM. When I got the new Kimber Montana I got it in 270 WSM because that WSM is far more popular. I already had a M70 7mm WSM anyway but I wanted the lighter Kimber.

I really like 7mm and the WSM's. I wish my 270 WSM was a 7mm now.

Indeed I should lay in a very large supply of new brass.

The headspace on the 7mm WSM is longer than the 270 or 300 WSM's. The reason the 7mm fell behind is that it was 'designed' with the same headspace as the others and then pulled as with the same headspace a 7mm WSM might be fired in a 270 WSM. Thus Winchester did not sell the 7mm WSM's til much later and the late start hurt its popularity.

I agree with those that say it would be the first to go, but stuff is still very available, and I would think if you lay in a couple hundred pieces of brass, that would be a hell of a supply, unless you shoot several hundred rounds a month, or have a family geneology that looks like you gonna make 125 years old or something.....

The WSM brass sure lasts a long time IME, the rounds always shoot accurately for me, and they give good power so I remain a fan of the WSM's for sure, In my SAKO rifles I also have had no feeding issues. Get your 7 WSM on!

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I was concerned about the 7mm WSM disappearing after I bought mine, but ammo availability actually seems to have gotten better of late, at least here in Minnesota.

Even if it does go, I would imagine it will be like so many obsolete calibers. First the ammo companies will announce they are phasing out the cartridge and components, which will take 1-3 years. Then they will do special runs of cases every few years to get the hard-core handloaders in cases. I have a Win 94 in .32 Winchester Special and I can still buy Rem and Win ammo every fall for deer season and Rem does manufacturing runs of cases about every three years.

I wouldn't let it bother me. Just stock up on cases and your good to go. You would have at least a couple years to get stocked up I would think, in the worst case.

Then, a few years from now you can read articles in gun rags touting the 7 WSM as one of the best calibers to fall under the radar.

Its becoming the new darling for a lot of long range shooters, especially with the newer VLD berger bullest at like 175 or 180 gr.

I actually put a M70 Coyote on layaway last weekend in 7mmWSM. I need a dedicated long range goat gun, noticed I had a bunch of 7mm bullets so that decided my caliber! I knew I didnt want a 7 Rem Mag, cause....well, its too popular! Everyone plus their brothers uncles wifes 2nd cousing once removed boyfriends little sister shoots a 7RM. Not to mention, it was on sale

I bought a model 70 featherweight 7mm WSM about 3 years ago . Bought enough brass to see the barrel out as even then there were question marks about how long it would last . I'm using 140gn ballistic tips and accubonds with H4831SC at 3150 FPS and also the 160gn accubond with Reloder 25 at 3030 FPS . Performance has been excellent with all 3 projectiles shooting well under MOA . Lays everything that I've tried it on low . Great round IMO .
This goat taken at 427 paces as it walked up a limestone ridge .

Feral donkey weighing 250 - 300kg .

Approx. 100kg Northern Territory boar

Of all the WSMs IMO the 7mm is the best(most useful and practical).....

If I wanted one I'd get one without consideration of ammo availability.....just get a couple hundred brass day-1.....

Reloading is a fun hobby and most folks don't shoot more than a few rounds a year from a hunting rifle.

Keep 100 brass for a rainy day.....and always use new brass for hunting....practice and shoot coyotes etc with once fired or many times fired brass. Properly managed one should never run out of brass in his lifetime.....

Well now that the 7wsm is becoming popular with long range bench guys, the Rem and Win brass MIGHT dry up...but I bet Norma and Lapua will keep making them for years

oldun ----- I think the 7mmWSM is a fine round and would fun to shoot. However, I shoot the .270 WSM and this rascal can do things for a reloader that would amaze you. Look at the reloading books (Nosler 6th edition and Barnes 4th edition) and you will see the .270 WSM can outdo or equal the 7mm's up the STW. Good luck and good shooting.

I would not worry myself about popularity. Go with the 7mm WSM and don't look back. You can convert 300 WSM to 7mm WSM without problems.

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
I would not worry myself about popularity. Go with the 7mm WSM and don't look back. You can convert 300 WSM to 7mm WSM without problems.

I agree. I actually like the SAUM a bit better, but that's personal preference. Just buy enough brass to last & not worry. I would think 200rds of new brass would last you a lifetime of hunting & occasional shooting. You can always make brass from the 270 or 300WSM.

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
I would not worry myself about popularity. Go with the 7mm WSM and don't look back. You can convert 300 WSM to 7mm WSM without problems.

Its not that easy! The 7mm WSM's case is longer to the shoulder than the 270, 300 and 325 WSMs! They pulled back the design as it was discovered, late, that a 7mm WSM could be fired in a 270 WSM otherwise. This delay in the release of the 7mm WSM rifles and cartriges are what killed it.

Just as the 280 Remington's headspace is a lot longer than the 270 Win. so is the 7mm WSM's now!

Sure we can neck them up or down to 7mm WSM but the headspace will not be right. Its longer by .035"!

quote:

Originally posted by Savage_99:

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
I would not worry myself about popularity. Go with the 7mm WSM and don't look back. You can convert 300 WSM to 7mm WSM without problems.

Its not that easy! The 7mm WSM's case is longer to the shoulder than the 270, 300 and 325 WSMs! They pulled back the design as it was discovered, late, that a 7mm WSM could be fired in a 270 WSM otherwise. This delay in the release of the 7mm WSM rifles and cartriges are what killed it.

Just as the 280 Remington's headspace is a lot longer than the 270 Win. so is the 7mm WSM's now!

Sure we can neck them up or down to 7mm WSM but the headspace will not be right. Its longer by .035"!

Didn't kill my 7mm WSM, Mines killi'n Reds in Scotland!, Steve in U.K.,P.S. got some bags o' nice shiny Winchester brass right here on the bench!

Oh I have a 7mm WSM in a M70 SS Classic as well and its very accurate. I have brass.

quote:

Originally posted by Savage_99:

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
I would not worry myself about popularity. Go with the 7mm WSM and don't look back. You can convert 300 WSM to 7mm WSM without problems.

Its not that easy! The 7mm WSM's case is longer to the shoulder than the 270, 300 and 325 WSMs! They pulled back the design as it was discovered, late, that a 7mm WSM could be fired in a 270 WSM otherwise. This delay in the release of the 7mm WSM rifles and cartriges are what killed it.

Just as the 280 Remington's headspace is a lot longer than the 270 Win. so is the 7mm WSM's now!

Sure we can neck them up or down to 7mm WSM but the headspace will not be right. Its longer by .035"!

You would have to fireform cases made from 300WSM, but it's certainly managable. I've made 404jeffery brass from 375RUM cases & they are not even close except in head size & overall length.

I have one or two bags of 7mm WSM new brass somewere in my mess of stuff, if someone wants them and will pay the shipping USPS I will give them to you. Of course I will have to find the dang things so you will have to bear with me.

quote:

Originally posted by ron williams:
I have one or two bags of 7mm WSM new brass somewere in my mess of stuff, if someone wants them and will pay the shipping USPS I will give them to you. Of course I will have to find the dang things so you will have to bear with me.

If you find them, give me first option on them please?, Thanks, Steve.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Latham:

quote:

Originally posted by ron williams:
I have one or two bags of 7mm WSM new brass somewere in my mess of stuff, if someone wants them and will pay the shipping USPS I will give them to you. Of course I will have to find the dang things so you will have to bear with me.

If you find them, give me first option on them please?, Thanks, Steve.

I am sorry Steve but I do not think I can ship them out of the US with out a considerable amount of Hassle.

I found everyones info interesting. Just wanted to let you know that i checked three store in our area while looking at the latest in deer hunting items. the only wsm rds i could find where for the 270.

quote:

Originally posted by ron williams:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Latham:

quote:

Originally posted by ron williams:
I have one or two bags of 7mm WSM new brass somewere in my mess of stuff, if someone wants them and will pay the shipping USPS I will give them to you. Of course I will have to find the dang things so you will have to bear with me.

If you find them, give me first option on them please?, Thanks, Steve.

I am sorry Steve but I do not think I can ship them out of the US with out a considerable amount of Hassle.

Hey Ron, I can give you a Orlando hotel addy where our tame transatlantic pilots stay over regular, if that's ok?, Steve.

If I wanted a 7mm WSM, I would buy it and never worry about it. Plenty of brass out there right now . IMO it is a great round.



wsm

quote:

You can convert 300 WSM to 7mm WSM without problems.

You can also run 7mm through your die and have 300WSM just as fast. I have dozens of 'em...

I'd just bite the bullet and go buy several bags of brass. Yes, the price is high, but of what good is a rifle for which you may not have any brass a few years down the line? Sensing the coming of high prices, I bought five bags of 300WSM almost two years ago. Still have them and never touched them. I'll have them when the Dems have outlawed any new manufacture of cases as a "crime prevention" measure. They don't spoil...

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
Hi Guys,
I'm contemplating getting a Kimber in one of the new WSMs. My preference is for the 7mm but am concerned that the 7mm will be the first of the WSMs cartidges to fall away in popularity and thereby the supply of cases could dry up. Is the 270 more popular?
A couple of questions.
Will the 7mm WSM stay around or should I go for the 270 WSM?
Is it easy to convert 300 WSM cases to 7mm WSM?
Thanks.

Just had a pal of mine neck size some new 300 WSM brass for me while I wait on the 7mm WSM back-order from the importers, all I have to do is run through the usual process of de-burr & sorting & fire form, & as today is a Sunday & now't else better to do , here we go!